A message from Town Supervisor Rick Keaveney!

To Fellow Canaan Residents:

Our national and State economies have their difficulties, but the Town of Canaan is in excellent financial shape. The Town Board reduced the Town of Canaan tax levy by 5.3% in 2009 and will continue to achieve efficiencies for next year’s budget. We are committed to getting more done for our community using less money, regardless of economic conditions.

In 2008 we accomplished a great deal. A costly assessment lawsuit was settled, an assessment revaluation is now in progress and assessment data is available on our website. Improvements were made to the Town Hall, Stoddard Field, and the Highway Garage. A crosswalk was installed between Town Hall and Stoddard Field. Revisions to our zoning laws and ethics disclosure forms were completed. The Town’s website was restructured and is updated consistently. The voter mandated $250,000 Salt-Shed Reserve account has now been fully funded. The Town Board mailed a letter to all residents and taxpayers updating them on Town proceedings and finances. You will receive another letter this June.

In 2009 we will continue making improvements to the Town Hall, Stoddard Field’s pavilion, gardens and recreation facilities, and the Highway Garage’s structure and heating. Now that the reserve account is fully funded we will be pursuing some new, innovative and cost-effective ideas for a sand/salt storage facility. A moratorium on applications is now in place on Flint’s Crossing Road so we can determine the appropriate measures to improve traffic and safety conditions in that area. The Highway Department will begin replacing the large culvert on Peaceful Valley Road, complete guardrail installations on Frisbee Street and of course, continue its customary work on improving the quality of our roads.

Lastly, the successful management of a small town has nothing to do with politics or prejudices, but it has everything to do with communication, compromise, participation and community spirit. The majority of experiences that affect our daily lives happen right here in our own Town and County, not in Washington, Albany or Wall Street. Therefore we need to place more focus on our community. To paraphrase an old saying, if you want something done right you need to build it right from the ground up.

I wish you a terrific 2009.

Rick Keaveney
Town Supervisor

Questions? Suggestions? Use Contact the Town.

Town Hall2:
The Canaan Town Hall can be found on County Route 5, just south of the intersection with Route 295. The mailing address is PO Box 459, Canaan, NY 12029.

The Canaan Town Clerk's hours are:

Monday & Wednesday & Thursday & Friday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Thursday 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The Clerk's office can be reached at (518)781-3144, ext. 1. If you have a question about the town, the Clerk probably has the answer! So give her a call or feel free to stop by.